Oil-purifying apparatus for hydrocarbon-engines



J. A. WATSON. 01L PURIFYING APPARATUS FORHYDROCABBON ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, I920.

Patented Nov. 16,1920. I

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. WATSON, 0F SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 16 1920 Application filedMay 17, 1920. Serial No. 381,936.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES A. WATSON, a citizen of the United States, andresiding at Silver Spring, Montgomery county, State of Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Purifying Apparatusfor Hydrocarbon-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

It is commonly known that the lubricating oil of hydrocarbon enginesrapidly deteriorates by reason of the admixture of gasolene and Waterwhich leaks by the pistons from the combustion chambers. The water .ischiefly produced by condensation of the burned gases, especially whenthe engine is cold. The gasolene is sometimes entrained with theexplosive mixture and carried in liquid condition into the cylinders andsometimes it condenses out of the mixture when the engine is cold instarting. When a cylinder is not firing a part of the gasolene passingthrough runs down its walls by the piston into the crank case. Theresult of the mixture of gasolene and water with lubricating oil isthatthe oil becomes too thin for lubricating purposes and if notfrequently replaced with new oil injury to the bearings is likely toresult.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whichwill continuously tend to remove water, gasolene, 'or other more or lessvolatile fluids from the oil, and preferably an apparatus which willoperate automatically and continuous? at all times when the engine isrunning. t is Well known that water and gasolene will evaporate rapidlywhen exposed to a vacuum or to reduced atmospheric pressure, and in theapparatus embodying the present invention the oil, preferably in theform of spray, is subjected to a vacuum or to reduced pressure, whichcauses the more volatile portions to evaporate and pass to the pump orother means for creating the vacuum, the heavy oil being returned to thecrank case or other reservoir or directly to the bearings of the engine,as may be desired. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated twoembodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that it may beembodied in a variety of apparatus.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagram of an engine with the present apparatus appliedthereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the tank in which the separation of thevolatile impurities from the lubricating oil is effected, viewed fromthe rear of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of the two-way valve illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail of the valve operating lever;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of an engine illustrating another embodiment of theinvention; and

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Figs. to 4 of the drawing, 10 indicates a hydrocarbonengine, 11 the exhaust pipe, 12 the intake pipe or manifold, 13 thethrottle valve, 14 the carbureter and 15 the crank case.

A indicates a tank which should be constructed air tight and which maybe of any desired shape and in any number of sections suitably connectedtogether. The tank comprises a separating chamber B, an intermittentvacuum chamber C and preferably a discharge chamber D. The chamber Bextends from the top 16 to the bottom 17. The oil enters chamber Bthrough the pipe 18 leading from the bottom of the crank case or fromsome part of the oiling system from which the oil can be convenientlytaken. The oil is preferably heated in its passage to the separatingchamber and, as shown, this is accomplished by means of a coil 19 takingheat from the exhaust pipe 11. It is also desirable to strain the oiland this may be accomplished by introducing a strainer 20 in the pipeline 18.

The oil is drawn into the separating chamber B by creating a vacuum orpartial vacuum therein and-this is conveniently done by connecting thechamber with the intake manifold 12 of the engine. As shown theseparating chamber is connected with the intake manifold above thethrottle valve by the pipe 21. If a higher vacuum is desired than thatexisting in the intake manifold a vacuum pump or other device forcreating a vacuum may be employed.

Within the upper part of the vacuum chamber B I arrange means forsub-dividing the oil so as to expose a large surface thereof to theinfluence of the vacuum. This is conveniently accomplished by the use ofa series of perforated plates 22. The oil is discharged from the pipe 18on to the upper plate and it drops from plate to plate through theseries of plates and finally into a large compartment 23 in the bottomof the separating chamber B. From the bottom of the chamber B the oil isdischarged intermittently through an outlet 24: having a valve 25 whichis adapted to be held I is provided With a two-Way valve 27 which,

as shown in Fig. 3, is adapted to alternately connect the chamber C withthe external air through pipe 26, 26 and with the exhaust pipe 21 orother source of reduced pressure through the tube 28. The valve 27 isautomatically operated by means of a float 29 having a vertical stem 30on which are two shoulders 31, 32. Between these shoulders lies a lever33 connected with the valve 27 and preferably forked, as shown in Fig.4:. The float stem 30 is preferably in line with the fitting 34: of thevacuum pipe 21 and this fitting is provided with a valve seat wherebythe vacuum pipe 21 may be closed by a valve 35 on the end of the floatstem 30 if the oil should rise abnormally in chamber B.

The intermittent vacuum chamber C is provided with an outlet 36 having avalve 37 similar to the outlet 2i and valve 25 above described. The oilis intermittently discharged through the outlet 36 and conducted back tothe crank case or other part of the oiling system and this may beconveniently accomplished by permitting the oil to discharge into thefunnel 38 and to return through the pipe 39 connected to the funnel.

The operation of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive isas follows: When the engine is running, and especially when idlingor'running under small throttle openings, a considerable vacuum iscreated in the intake manifold'12 and this reduced pressure. or vacuumis communicated continuously by means of the pipe 21 to the separatingchamber B. It-may be assumed that on starting the float 29 is at thebottom of the chamber B. The suction in the chamber will cause oil toflow into the 'chamberi through the pipe 18 the oil being preferablyheated by means of the device 19 or other suitable heater. The oilpercolates through the various screens whereby a large surface of oil isexposed to the vacuum causing the gasolene or other volatile impuritiesin the oil to vaporize. The vapor thus produced is drawn ofi'continuously through the vacuum pipe 21. Owing to the suction or vacuumin the chamber B and the fact that ordinary atmospheric pressure existsnormally in the chamber C the valve 25 will be held closed by theatmospheric pressure and the oil will accumulate in B and raise thefloat 29. After a given quantity of oil has accumulated in chamber B theshoulder 32 on the float will engage the lever 33 and shift the valve 27permitting the air in the chamber C to be exhausted through pipes 26, 28and 21, thus removing the pressure from the valve 25 which will open andpermit the oil in chamber B to run into chamber C. The suction at thistime in the chamber C will hold the valve 37 closed. The chamber Cshould be large enough to hold'a full charge from the chamber B- withoutdanger of the oil rising in chamber C to the inlet of pipe 26.

As the oil runs from the outlet 24 the float descends and eventuallyshifts the valve 27 so as to restore communication between the pipesections 26, 26*, communication with the pipe 28 being cut off. Air thenrushes into the chamber C creating sufficient pressure to hold the valve25 closed, and "permitting the valve 37 to open and the oil in thechamber C to be returned to the engine lubricating system.

The cycle of operations above described is repeated indefinitely. It isto be understood that the flow of oil should be restricted so that itwill be under the influence of the vacuum for a considerable period inpassing through the separating chamber. It is to be also understood thatthe oil will be continuously circulating through the vacuum apparatus atall times when the engine is running and that the entire quantity of oilin the lubricating system of the engine will pass through the purifyingapparatus many times during a days run of the motor, thus maintainingthe oil free from volatile impurities.

If for any abnormal reason oil should rise in the chamber B above thepoint at which the pipe 28 is placed in communication with the chamber Cthe valve 35 will seat and close the connection between the separatingchamber and the vacuum producing apparatus, thus stopping the inflow ofoil through pipe 18 and in any event preventing oil from being drawninto the intake of the engine.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a modified form of the apparatusembodying different means for creating alternately normal and reducedpressure in the chamber C, thus dispensing with the valve 27 and itsoperating means. Referring to this figure A indicates the tank havingthe vacuum chamber B, the intermittent vacuum chamber C and a dischargechamber l), substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

A reduced atmospheric pressure or partial vacuum is maintained in thechamber B by means of a vacuum pump 40, which should preferably exhaustinto the intake 12 through pipe 21% or by directly connecting thechamber B with the intake 12 through pipes 21, 21

E indicates the well known partial vacuum tank or intermittent vacuumtank which is commonly used to draw fuel from the gasolene tank anddeliver it to the carbureter. The internal devices of this partialvacuum tank are well known and need not be illustrated. The operation ofthese devices intermittently connects the interior of the tank E throughpipe 21 with the intake of the engine or other source of reducedpressure, and with an air vent 41 whereby fuel is periodically drawnfrom the gasolene tank through pipe 42 and supplied to the carbureterthrough pipe 43. By connecting the interior of tank E with the interiorof chamber C by means of conduit 44, the condition in tank E isduplicated in chamber C, that is, the pressure in the chamber (3 isintermittently normal and subnormal,

whereby the oil which accumulates in chamber B is intermittently emptiedinto chamber I C and from chamber 0 into receptacle D, and thencereturned to the oiling system of the engine through pipe 39.

The devices substantially as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 are preferable tothat shown in Fig. 5, for the reason that the operation of the formerdevices is practically continuous, that is, the oil will flowcontinuously into the chamber B while the engine is running, and will beemptied at regular intervals into the chamber C. On the other hand, theoperation of the partial vacuum tank E is irregular, depending upon therapidity with which the gasolene is consumed and hence the flow of oilin chamber B, Fig. 5, would be interrupted at times by reason of theirregular emptying of said chamber into chamber C. It will be understoodthat when the oil accumulates to a certain extent in chamber B, thevalve carried by the float will shut ofl' communication with the sourceof vacuum and thus interrupt the flow of oil into the chamber.

It will also be understood that the chamber B, Fig. 5, is to be providedwithperforated disks, such as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, or with equivalentmeans for exposing a large surface of the lubricating oil to the actionof the vacuum, and thus promote evaporation of the volatile impurities.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

1. The combination with a hydrocarbon engine having a lubricating oilingsystem of means for withdrawing volatile ingredients from the oilcomprising a separating chamber, means for delivering oil from thelubricating system to said chamber, means for creating a subatmosphericpressure in said chamber, a receiving chamber having a valvedcommunication with the separating chamber and a valved outlet, and meansfor ternately normal and subnormal catingsystem to said chamber, meansfor creating a subatmospheric .pressure in said chamber, a receivingchamber having a valved communication with the separating chamber, meansfor creating alternately atmospheric and subatmospheric pressure in thereceiving chamber, and means for returning the oil to the lubricatingsystem.

3. The combination with a hydrocarbon engine having a lubricating oilingsystem of means forwithdrawing volatile ingredients from the oilcomprising a tank having a partition providing a separating chamberabove the partition and an oil receiving chamber below the partition, acheck valve controlling communication between said chambers, an outletfor the receiving chamber controlled by a check .valve,means forcreating subnormal pressure in the separating chamber, means forcreating alternately normal and subnormal pressure in the receivingchamber, means for conducting oil from lubricating system to theseparating chamber and means for conducting oil from the receivingchamber back to the lubricating s stem.

4. n apparatus for separating the volatile impurities from thelubricating oil in the oiling system of a hydrocarbon engine comprisinga separating chamber, means for continuously creating subnormal pressuretherein while the engine is running, means for conducting oil into saidchamber, a valved outlet for said chamber, a float and means controlledby said float for efl'ecting discharge of the oil through said outlet.

5. An apparatus for separating the volatile impurities from thelubricating oil in the oiling system of a hydrocarbon engine comprisingaseparating chamber, means for creating subnormal pressure therein, meansfor conducting oil into said chamber, a valved outlet for said chamber,a float within said chamber and means controlled by said float forefl'ecting discharge of the oil through said outlet.

6. An apparatus for separating the volatile impurities from the oil inthe oiling system of a hydrocarbon engine comprising a separatingchamber, a receiving chamber, a

valved communication between said cham,

bers, a valved outlet for the receiving chamber, means for conductingoil to the separating chamber, means for creating subnormal pressure inthe separating chamber, a float, and float controlled means for creatingalpressure in the receiving chamber. Y

7. An apparatus for separating the volapressure in the separatingchamber, a float tile impurities from the oil in the oiling Within theseparating chamber, and means 10 system of a hydrocarbon enginecomprising controlled by said float for creating altera separatingchamber, a receiving chamber, nately normal and subnormal pressure in avalved communication between said chamthe receiving chamber. bers, avalved outlet for the receiving cham- In testimony whereof I affix mysignature.

ber, means for conducting oil tothe separating chamber, means forcreating subnormal JAMES A. WATSQN.

